Yartung Festival
यार्तुङ
August 17, 2026 – August 19, 2026 · Shrawan, 2083 (approximate) BS
Approximate — confirm closer to your travel datesMustang region (Lo Manthang and Muktinath)
Plan a trip around Yartung FestivalHistory & origin
Marks the end of the summer farming season in Mustang, when livestock traditionally taken to high pastures are brought back down, and horsemanship — long central to survival and status on the high plateau — is celebrated communally.
How it’s celebrated
Local horsemen compete in races and displays of riding skill across open ground, alongside archery contests and traditional Thakali and Tibetan Buddhist dances and feasting. Lo Manthang holds the more traditional royal-court version of the festival, while Muktinath's celebration, closer to the main Annapurna Circuit trail, is easier for travelers to reach without a restricted-area permit.
Tips for visitors
Horse racing on the high Mustang plateau is a rare, dramatic sight — Muktinath's celebration is more accessible than Lo Manthang's for travelers without a restricted-area permit.
Related journeys — Healing Treks
Mindful Annapurna
An eight-day trek in the Annapurna region combining walking with daily meditation, yoga and cultural immersion in the villages along the route.
Langtang Valley Healing Trek
A nine-day trek through the Langtang Valley combining walking with daily meditation and time in Tamang Buddhist villages, closer to Kathmandu than our Everest or Annapurna routes.
Helambu Sacred Valley Trek
A six-day introductory trek through the Hyolmo villages of Helambu, a gentler alternative to Langtang or the Annapurna foothills for travelers new to trekking.
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